Combined effects of sodium alginate supplementation with HIIT and MICT on CCK and PYY levels in men with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal obesity is a prevalent characteristic of individuals with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). Effective weight management strategies that induce satiety play a crucial role in reducing the risk of obesity and, consequently, MetS. This study aimed to investigate the impact of sodium alginate supplementation in conjunction with High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) on the increment of Cholecystokinin (CCK) and Peptide YY (PYY) levels in men with MetS. METHODS: Forty men with MetS volunteered for this study and were randomly assigned to one of five groups: HIIT (high-intensity interval training), HIIT + S (high-intensity interval training + sodium alginate supplementation), MICT (moderate-intensity interval training), MICT + S (moderate-intensity interval training + sodium alginate supplementation), and control (C), which received no intervention. The HIIT groups performed four bouts of four minutes at 85-95% of their Peak Heart Rate (HR peak), with three minutes of active recovery at 50-70% HR peak, three sessions per week. The MICT groups engaged in 30 min of exercise at 60-70% HR peak, three sessions per week. The HIIT + S and MICT + S groups consumed 1.5 g of Sigma sodium alginate solution (manufactured in the USA) dissolved in 100 mg of sweet water (containing 7 g of fructose) 30 min before their three main meals, three days per week, for eight weeks. RESULTS: After eight weeks of interventions, CCK and PYY levels significantly increased in all studied groups. The HIIT + S group exhibited a significantly greater increase compared to the other groups. Additionally, the MetS Z score significantly decreased in all studied groups, with the HIIT + S group demonstrating a significantly greater decrease compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that both HIIT and MICT contribute to overall improvement in men with MetS. However, the combination of sodium alginate supplementation with exercise further enhances these improvements. These findings support integrating sodium alginate and exercise into MetS management to enhance satiety and improve metabolic profiles. Limitations include the short duration (8 weeks) and small sample size, which limit long-term conclusions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial, with the reference number IR.KUMS.REC.1398.214, underwent approval by the Research Ethics Committees of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. The trial was subsequently registered in the Iranian Clinical Trial Registration Center under the code IRCT20190916044788N1 on 03/12/2020.